Scotia bank executive talks final weeks as national trade group chairman

John Buhrmaster, CEO of 1st National Bank of Scotia, has visited 48 states as chairman of the Independent Community Bankers Association.

He is four weeks away from finishing his one-year term as head of the national trade group with plans to visit one of the remaining states - Oklahoma - this summer. Once that is over, Buhrmaster expects to spend less time traveling and more time at his fifth-generation bank in Scotia.

Independent Community Bankers of America(ICBA) represents almost 6,500 banks. In Buhrmaster's position with the bankers' association, he wields influence into how the federal government deals with small financial institutions, hurting or helping their ability to lend.

"I've seen some of the most beautiful parts of our country," Buhrmaster said. "Our travel because of ICBA has brought us to so many national parks in Montana and Utah. We wouldn't have seen those otherwise."

One month out, the travel has not stopped. Next week, Buhrmaster will be in Washington D.C. to talk regulatory burden before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

"Sen. [Richard] Shelby has been hearing that there is a crushing regulatory burden on community banks," Buhrmaster said. "I'll be telling them exactly that."

Since Buhrmaster started his term as chairman, he has seen more politicians recognize the need for improved regulations toward community banks.

"We're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel," Buhrmaster said.

Buhrmaster said community banks are better situated for 2015 than they were when his term started last year. He plans to give over his chairmanship during the annual ICBA convention in Orlando, Florida in the first week of March.